tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post7838553577646461165..comments2023-08-20T08:13:50.022-04:00Comments on Mama MLDB: Getting something off my chest...MLDBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10501780698756402069noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-43474416936064687042009-04-22T22:15:00.000-04:002009-04-22T22:15:00.000-04:00Amen, sis! We connected on this topic right away,...Amen, sis! We connected on this topic right away, remember? Reading and hearing about your struggles has helped me so much. It's such a relief to know that someone else gets it. And as I understand it, church is about fellowship and connection, so in a way, our experiences (even the worst ones) have brought us together. Congratulations on your courage! Looking forward to finding our way together.Stephnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-43225365948516382432009-04-22T14:59:00.000-04:002009-04-22T14:59:00.000-04:00Michelle- If you read my blog, you will know that ...Michelle- If you read my blog, you will know that I go to a church every Sunday, and will raise my children there. I echo alot of your same feelings, more often than not it is people I find myself grapling with and not God himself. But, I think that you nail the issue right on the head when you said the people are not perfect and when we set our selves up to see them as perfect(or the try to act as if they are) we set ourselves up for failure.The church of our parents: gossip, back- biting, and protests are not the church of today. And although I agree with the anti-gay stance my church takes, I also know that if a Gay person walked in the doors of my church they would NOT be shunned or presucated, because God says love the sinner and not the sin. Religion, Church and Salvation is a hard topic to talk upon based so much on our "baggage" that we have as children. Sometimes, our parents just did what there parents did based upon the sole fact that it seemed right. I am so thankful that we live in an age that we have parenting, moral and value resources at our finger tips.We do not have to raise our kids as we were raised. I believe in Church, God and his Son Jesus and they impact who I am as an adult but I applaude your efforts to make sure you know what you want and what you believe based on you instead of doing it just because your parents did. I love my church, and I hope that you and your family find one that you love & enjoy just as much and that will help you find the answers that you need.Kristyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168160989486311139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-36341444637313361852009-04-22T13:40:00.000-04:002009-04-22T13:40:00.000-04:00I attended Mars Hill for a couple of years when I ...I attended Mars Hill for a couple of years when I still lived in Grand Rapids and felt very much at home there because it was the first time I'd ever attended a church where the pastor said it was okay to question God and spoke openly about the fact that life is hard, and it's painful, and sometimes it just plain sucks. Since moving to San Diego we haven't tried to find a church because I feel like the majority won't be a good fit for me - I need to belong to one that is progressive and open-minded. I've considered asking some of my gay friends who are spiritual where they attend... but I'm not in a hurry because I don't think that a relationship with God is defined by whether you show up to this building called a church once a week. It's much more personal than that.<br /><br />p.s. - The NOOMA videos are fantastic. Such a great way to reach out to this generation of people who want to explore their faith.taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15419444871958734015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-6456729818172489752009-04-21T20:16:00.000-04:002009-04-21T20:16:00.000-04:00I struggled in college too and now find that churc...I struggled in college too and now find that church makes me angry. So hypocritical. I haven't gone to mass outside of a funeral in ages. Actually, make that five years, when I attended with my family last time I was home for Christmas. Big surprise.Hootahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07297773836451418128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-86010663641813789852009-04-21T14:05:00.000-04:002009-04-21T14:05:00.000-04:00I'm proud of you too, Michele, for expressing how ...I'm proud of you too, Michele, for expressing how you feel so honestly and openly. It's definitely not easy to do, especially with such loaded topics!Mes Yeux Seulementhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16167988900226648042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-34570570919442922942009-04-21T12:28:00.000-04:002009-04-21T12:28:00.000-04:00Great post Michele. I've had similar struggles my...Great post Michele. I've had similar struggles myself. And I still feel very unsure of how or if (organized) religion will play a role in our family. Even if we never find a church for us, I still think I can raise my kids to know God and to be a "good" person.amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491415570821820869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-85250244618389536122009-04-20T20:30:00.000-04:002009-04-20T20:30:00.000-04:00Willo- Yup, Rob Bell is the founder and pastor, an...Willo- Yup, Rob Bell is the founder and pastor, and does the NOOMA videos. I just watched Rain last night, and cried. I also love the one called "Flame" about love.MLDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10501780698756402069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-82601406487788662062009-04-20T20:29:00.000-04:002009-04-20T20:29:00.000-04:00Heather- I was raised to believe that baptism come...Heather- I was raised to believe that baptism comes after you're old enough to decide about your relationship with God...and that while you're a child, you sort of get a "free pass". Mars Hill has a statement on their website that explains their beliefs (basically that parents can dedicate their kids, but baptism comes later). I don't know if I'm down with either idea. If I were ever to dedicate Avery, it would be to promise to raise her with good morals, values, and the ability to make hard decisions with responsible guidance. Other than that...I'm just as lost as you;) If Sophia isn't in Heaven because of baptism, then she'll be in good company with Avery and I.MLDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10501780698756402069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-89574004245804427382009-04-20T19:19:00.000-04:002009-04-20T19:19:00.000-04:00Amen! Is Mars Hill the church that NOOMA comes ou...Amen! Is Mars Hill the church that NOOMA comes out of? Because I love that series!Willohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03084939293467897155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-48208533671406107632009-04-20T18:42:00.000-04:002009-04-20T18:42:00.000-04:00I read this entire entry to Sophia (I hope you don...I read this entire entry to Sophia (I hope you don't mind). She sat quietly through the entire entry and clapped for you with such force I thought for sure her hands would turn black and fall off.<br /><br />I have some of the same views and experiences of church that you do and I admire you're boldness to share that with the world. I have made the same decision for Sophia... We (I should say) want to let her choose.<br /><br />However it has been said (in my family no less) that if we don't get Sophia baptized she won't reach heaven should something happen to her..... what are your thoughts? Mine weren't very nice.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342051906818773166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878486570936682911.post-11922172572786038472009-04-20T18:19:00.000-04:002009-04-20T18:19:00.000-04:00I'm proud of you, Michele, for posting your feelin...I'm proud of you, Michele, for posting your feelings and beliefs in such an honest and sincere way. Furthermore, I respect you and love you for it, sis.JessLitLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10860202669947433666noreply@blogger.com